A 12-month pilot program using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has recently commenced at RAAF Base East Sale. The SAF pilot program marks a significant milestone in Defence’s ongoing efforts to increase energy resilience and adopt climate mitigation strategies, as highlighted in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. This pilot program contributes to Defence’s plan to transition to the use of lower-carbon energy types, without detriment to military capability, preparedness or interoperability with allies.
The Defence Net Zero Strategy and Defence Future Energy Strategy work hand in hand to provide an actionable pathway to support net zero targets and accelerate Defence’s transition to clean energy. Defence’s adoption of low-carbon liquid fuels is further driven by energy security objectives, as the establishment of an on-shore domestic renewable fuels industry can reduce Defence’s dependence on imported supply.
Air Commander Australia, Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz, AM, CSC, DSM said the pilot program makes RAAF Base East Sale the first airfield in Australia to operate routinely using a SAF blend. “This program demonstrates Defence’s ability to effectively operate our aviation capabilities using SAF, as well as the demand for industry investment in domestic SAF production,” said Air Vice-Marshal Braz.
Commander Joint Logistics, Major General Carla Watts said the pilot program highlights the critical importance of a secure fuel supply for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “Domestic SAF production will bolster resilience in Australia’s liquid fuels sector and play a crucial role in the feasibility of incorporating SAF into the Defence supply chains.”
By investing in clean energy, investigating opportunities for adopting lower-carbon fuels and preparing for future energy needs, Defence will contribute to a cleaner, safer environment and a more resilient Australia.
SAF is a liquid fuel derived from renewable sources. All ADF aircraft are certified to operate on SAF. The use of SAF in the pilot program is compliant with existing military aviation fuel standards and is consistent with those used by our allies and partners. The pilot program has been enabled through Defence’s relationship with Defence strategic fuel partners, Viva Energy Australia and UGL Limited.
In conducting the SAF pilot program, Defence is demonstrating its fuel supply chain capabilities, creating the conditions for enduring SAF use, and seeking to enhance fuel security by stimulating industry investment in domestic SAF production. Defence will continue to pursue opportunities that demonstrate its commitment to enhanced energy resilience while transitioning to clean energy, in accordance with the Defence Net Zero Strategy and Future Energy Strategy.
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This a good step forward and as you say Kim, has significant implication for fuel security if implemented quickly. Defence needs to be locally sourced, not reliant on seaborne supply from the other side of the world.
In the Defence context, being ‘green’ is irrelevant. It’s nice, but secure supply and quality is absolutely essential.
If you delve into SAF the first item is that SAF is chemically almost identical to Kerosene, and as expected it emits the same amount of CO2 when burnt. Via a convoluted thought process it is considered by some to be cleaner than producing kerosene because it has already been manufactured and used once. As an example reusing vegetable oil from a KFC fryer. There are of course significant reprocessing and transport costs of the “sustainable” fuel.
Pondering the process the first observation would be we would need a lot of chip fat to replace the billions of tons of jet fuel used annually.
My punt is SAF is Woke thought bubble. 👌
Lean green killing machine. I think we can focus on qantas before F35s
I have no idea what this means, but I’ll let it through in case it makes sense to other readers.
How does the SAF pilot program help Defence create the conditions for sustained SAF use and strengthen fuel security?